Former New York Gov. George Pataki won't run for his old job, he told reporters on Monday at the state Republican convention on Long Island.

But Pataki, the last Republican to successfully run for statewide office in New York and held the governorship for three terms, expects his party to recapture the executive mansion this fall. 

Pataki had been rumored as a potential candidate for governor and a former politial advisor had encouraged him publicly to enter the race. But Pataki, after addressing delegates at the convention on Monday afternoon, ruled out a bid. 

"We have four great candidates. They've worked hard, two of them have run statewide before, they're tremendous public servants or successful private sector people," he said. "I'm confident we'll get behind them and that person will get elected in November."

U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, former Westchester County Execuive Rob Astorino, former Trump aide Andrew Giuliani and businessman Harry Wilson are considered the top-tier candidates for the Republican nomination. 

Zeldin is considered the frontrunner to secure the party's designation this week, but his rivals have vowed to move forward with a party primary. 

Pataki still sees parallels to 1994, when he was a relatively little known candidate who unseated then-Gov. Mario Cuomo. 

"This is very much the same sense of enthusiasm and optimism and a belief that there's a tremendous chance to win," he said. "I believe there's a tremendous chance to win."